The director of Overwatch is leaving Blizzard

After virtually twenty years on the company, considered one of Blizzard’s easiest-identified workers is ready for one thing original. On Tuesday, Jeff Kaplan, the director of Overwatch, offered he’s leaving the historical sport developer. “It used to be in fact the glory of a lifetime to comprise the choice to comprise worlds and heroes for any such passionate target market,” Kaplan stated in a goodbye repeat shared by Blizzard.

Taking up for Kaplan is Aaron Keller, one other longtime Blizzard employee. Sooner than Overwatch, the 2 previously labored collectively on World of Warcraft. “Jeff’s been a well-known leader, mentor and buddy, and he is aware of how a lot we’ll miss him,” Keller stated. “I have been fortunate to work alongside him and the rest of the Overwatch team for many years in building one thing that continues to inspire other folks all across the sphere, and I’m honored to lift the torch forward.”

As it’s essential perchance presumably imagine, the timing of Kaplan’s departure is rising concerns amongst the Overwatch neighborhood. The franchise feels admire it be been in limbo over the previous one year with meaty updates to the usual sport few and much between. Blizzard furthermore obtained’t open Overwatch 2 in 2021. Nonetheless in step with Keller, model on the sequel is “persevering with at a factual tempo.” He says Blizzard will portion extra frequent updates on the sport “very shortly.”